But the Celtics stepped forward with an offer that would not have to come with any commitment from Paul that he'd re-sign with Boston after the season. According to a person familiar with the discussions, the Celtics offered Rajon Rondo, two future first-round picks, and restricted free agent Jeff Green in a sign-and-trade for Paul.

The impetus behind the Celtics' potential rental offer for Paul was intriguing: Come to Boston, take a shot at winning a title with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett while the window is still open, and then have enough room to entice Dwight Howard to come on board as an unrestricted free agent next summer. Garnett and Allen come off the books July 1, leaving the Celtics with only $30.4 million in committed salary for next season, when Howard can opt out of his contract with Orlando.

Though Paul has never expressed a desire to play in Boston, if he liked his new surroundings and the Celtics' chances of luring Howard, he would be in a championship-contending situation and could get his max deal of five years, $100 million six months after the trade.

This is worse then I thought. Not only is Ainge offering Rondo for Chris Paul, despite Rondo's better health and much smaller contract, but he's also willing to kick in Jeff Green, who he sacrificed Kendrick Perkins and last season for. But that's not all. Here's a first rounder New Orleans (probably the Clippers pick). Still not enough? Here's another 1st rounder. So if Paul leaves for New York next Summer, we have no Paul, no Rondo, no Green, and no draft picks to rebuild with. There's going All-In and then there's Crazy.

Sources said their offer includes point guard Rajon Rondo, a 2012 top-10 protected first-round pick from the Clippers, second-year guard Avery Bradley and rookie guard E'Twaun Moore. Another source said restricted free agent Jeff Green would likely be part of that deal as well.

The question is will CP3 will return to a game w/ a dislocated elbow. Rondo aint like other NBA players. He doesn't rub elbows w/ LeBron, and Kobe. He competes. I cant see CP3 havin the heart that Rondo does. Rondo's a winner, Rondo wants to win. CP3 is in the game for money and attention, I think all he cares about is his swag. That's why he wants to be out in LA, or NYC. I don't want CP3. Rondo=celt for life.

Yeah BHlousek, but I think Ainge decides he wants someone and becomes obsessed with him. He's the type of gm I love in fantasy basketball b/c he'll make crazy offers for 1 player. They get fleeced in the end.

Jesse he can sign with the Knicks for less, but not chump change. Then he can make the money back up with endorsements in the media capital of the world. Also I don't put it past Carmelo to hook CP3 up with some of his full boat money under the table.

If he wants to play in NYC badly enough he can make up the missing millions.

Unfortunately, JR its not fantasy, its the real world; which only tells us Danny needs to start thinking with his head and not his heart, else he will end up as the second Evil Emperor; the one who broke up the Celtics (modern day)

This what will happen. Danny Fucking Dumbass Ainge will trade RondoPaul comes and won't be able to handle the big 3, We'll lose, Paul won't come back, will go to NY,Celtics will end up with neither RONDO nor Paul, And we'll be fucked, And Rondo will be laughing his ass off and go to OKC,Rondo, Durant, and Perk will win 3 Championships

If this trade happens I don't think I'll be a huge fan this year. Sometimes its not all about getting the best player, sometimes it's about watching players that you've developed a relationship with take the team as far as they can. That said, This isnt about some scrubs at the end of the bench, this is our starting champion point guard. I think Danny is not realizing the affects of all this from a fan standpoint and from his potential starter in Rondo.

I'm a hardcore Rondo fan all the way-no secret there. That aside,exactly WHO is going to play center and come off the bench? Or does Danny plan on having a four man team? I guess Truth,KG,and Ray won't mind playing an entire game with no rest. Yeah great plan Dan. Smh

I TOLD EVERYBODY LAST YEAR DANNY AINGE IS SMOKING GOOD CRACK HE DOESNT CARE ABOUT NO BODY HE DOESNT WANT CHAMPIONSHIPS HE WANTS MONEY FOR HIS CRACK HAVIT. . BY TRADING RONDO AND GIVEN JEFF GREEN AND FIRST ROUND PICK = MORE MONEY ON HIS POCKET FOR HIS "GREASE " LETS LEAVE THE TD GARDEN EMPTY SEE IF HE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SMOKE THAT GOOD SHIT

This is a buncha BS! But I forgot Ainge is all abt the money not showing loyalty to the players that have made the Celtics!! Break up this team and It's gonna gr worse than the Perkins trade that never should have happened!

I wonder if the Hornets pass on both GS and the C's if that trade will be rekindled. Rondo is better than Curry, so GS might have a change of heart and I totally believe that Danny wants to move Rondo. CP3 is his first choice, but I don't think he'll stop once CP3 is traded to another team.

What the hell is wrong with Danny ainge? He is giving up the future of this team for what he believes is a good deal, which it's not. It would take at least 2 years for Paul to get the hang of the offense in Boston, and Boston doesnt have 2 years with the aging big 3. Rondo and green are the future of the celtics, so this trade would be freaking retarded. In sure the celtics will lose many fans because of dumbass ainge. Besides as shaq said " Paul isn't better than Rondo" FUCK YOU DANNY AINGE

I know CP3 may be the best PG in the NBA, but I know he is NOT worth Rondo, Green, AND two first round picks. Not in these circumstances. We barely have enough money as it is, and adding CP3 to the roster is going to take even more money away from us, and we'd have an extra roster spot to fill with that small amount of money. If this trade goes down, it should be considered the STUPIDEST trade in NBA history.

I'm fine with this. You have to bottom out before you can get back on top(unless you're the Lakers). It would be worse to keep Rondo and Green and be a team good enough to get to the first round but never any better than that.

This is not only crazy, Ainge is certifiably insane. He's destroying our Celtics w/some obsession w/getting Chris Paul,jettisoning Rondo.Makes no basketball sense. All we need is a big. We have a premiere point guard.1. Paul is not a big upgrade over Rondo, especially w/knee question2. Paul making it clear he won't re-sign with Celtics - has wanted NY for ages. 3. Dwight Howard doesn't want Celtics - he'll probably be gone to Lakers.

Of course all this started with another Ainge brain-cramp-'genius' Perk move. To add insult to injury Ainge willing to get rid of Green - the guy we lost Perk for(thought he was our back-up to Pierce)and to top it off if Rondo stays he will be disgruntled - he was lied to last week.

why does everyone think that if rondo stays, his only reaction or his main reaction is that he will be disgruntled. last time he was part of major trade talks, 2009-10 season, he helped lead the celtics to the nba finals. he is the type of player who excels playing with chip on his shoulder.

it's like the adele song RUMOR HAS IT“she, she aint real , she aint gone be able to love u like i will (rondo), she is a stranger, u and i have history or dont u remember. sure she’s got it all, but baby is that really what u want? BLESS YOUR SOUL danny ainge, u got your head in the clouds, you made a fool out of you”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti3t7MAwaaMadele has a song for everything :)

Anonymous 5 you are obviously an extremely intelligent person! Thank you for saying that all so I don't have to... ok I (im 15) have been a celtic fan since 04... yes when the celtics were the worst in the league. have been a huge fan since then. If they f***ing trade rondo i will 1. put a hit on danny and 2 never EVER cheer for them again. Rondo is the BEST thing (despite the big three) to happen to boston since Bird. ainge you remember those days don't you? the one where you, the skinny little white prick, tried to pick a fight with anyone you could! can we pleaseee trade ainge instead?????? PLEASEEEEEE :,( i mean give these celtics a chance...jermaine may stay healthy, big 4 led by rondo was THE SH*T last year. they beat the heat in their 1st game remember? then we got green (who WILL get better) to take allens place, and jujuan johnson is a great player to take garnets place! i saw him play at purdue he'll be much better than even turner or tristan thompson. and idk who will replace peirce but with that much extra money for contracts we can sign who ever the hell we want!!!!! nuff said

wow...Danny just really let this one go, How can we trade allll of those players Jeff Green(Perkins deal=completely useless)..Bradley (waste of a 1st round draft pick last year,that hasnt played at all really)..& Etwaun Moore a 2nd round pick with potential all for Chris Paul.

You guys are idiots. Rondo is not the future. When the big 3 are gone and you need Rondo to score how will we win? The guy can't shoot. He's a liability at the foul line. He's stubborn. Veterans complaint about him.

Yes he's good. Maybe great but you guys act like we are trading away Magic Johnson. And to complaint about Danny? If it weren't for him we wouldn't have banner 17. And if they trade Rondo and win 18, all of you are going to be on the bandwagon saying how much you love the currency team.

This rumors r exactly what they r don't nobody know shit ......Rondo is not leaving the Celtics they will add but not subtract the big 4.....Ainge is crazy but not that damn crazy...all ppl can do is guess and speculate but they don't know shit if they did he wouldn't be traded to all these different teams...so stop spreading the dumb shit .....Warriors already said that's not true about a Rondo trade...N.O don't won't that shit either...so just shut the fuck up

Shut the fuck up dummy not Vets complain about him u don't know what the fuck u talking about...take the stick out ur azz and put it in ur mouth and don't let nomore dumb shit cone out of it...its clear u don't know what the fuck ur talking about jackazz Rondo is the future when the big is gone they have more money to bring In new ppl

I'm just wondering if all somehow pans out (by that I mean the Cs somehow get Paul, win banner 18, then get Howard) what the comments will look like...

"Yeah! I told you! I was all for trading Rondo, now that he is a 10 and 8 player on another team!"

Seriously, you guys need to get over yourselves, you're not GMs and there's prolly a reason... Also, this prolly wouldn't be for Paul straight-up, as it is obvious that NO desn't want Rondo. A third party (Warriors? Pacers? ???)is needed and that could bring more players back to the Cs.

I've rarely seen a deal happen the exact same way it was predicted/rumored to happen...

And if Rondo is the future of the Celtics, and if he's the face of the Celtics then here is to many years in the draft lottery. Rondo is great for this team. He'd be great in Chicago, LA, Miami and Dallas because he would have great players to pass to but put him on New Orleans or the Pacers and he's an above average point guard

can we just trade ainge for someone that wants to have a good winning championship team? maybe we could trade danny for a 5yr old off a school play ground. Who cares about ball hog chris paul, or westbrook. obviously danny cant see how bad this trade went last year, i mean green was ok during the playoffs but we would of gone further if not past miami. this is just foolish to trade the most watched most improved player for a player that has missed time due to knee problems and health. hes a cry baby peroid. hes giving up on the hornets cause his other good players arent good enough for him, let him go to knicks and watch us walk all over them

What the hell has someone put in the coffee? Green, R. ROndo, Bradley & another + a projected 1st rounder?????? WTF! Rondo's also healthier, younger and cheaper no less!!! ROndo stay's, piss off CP3, we'll take D12 instead! If this actually happen's, it is the pipe bomb in Danny A's ARS!!!!

just get CP3. with CP3 you got 3 perimeter shooters(Truth, Allen, CP3) you got 2 penetrators(CP3 and Truth) and CP3 can pass alley-oops to KG or JaJuan. its a real upgrade from Rondo and a real bait to hook D12 for next year. you got a Celtic that will contend this year and the next 4 or 5 years. Don't get me wrong as a Rondo hater, man I love him but I love to see Celtics win year after year!

i personally feel that getting rid of Rondo would not be a good move just like i did not agree with getting rid of Kendrick Perkins. Rondo is becoming one of the faces of the team and to get rid of him would be a major mistake. He had some fantastic games last season so why would you get rid of him. He is a great point guard. PLEASE KEEP RONDO ON THE TEAM! -Alisha aka HUGE CELTICS FAN

not sure? This is the dumbest move I have ever heard of.The fans want Rondo not Chris Paul for ! season and lose 2 first round picks and Green which cost us our starting center K. Perkins.Danny needs to be fired,I cant believe Celtic ownership would even entertain such foolishness.If this happens the fan base will not support the team,Alot of us had trouble supporting Danny after his Perkins trade that was awful for the intrest of this team.